2017

How on earth do we meet Jesus? That may seem like an odd question, but it is a critical one. When Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis talk about our call to be missionary disciples and emis­saries of the New Evangelization, they talk about one critical event: our need for a personal encounter with Jesus. […]

Q: At the end of the Protestant Lord’s Prayer, there’s a doxolo­gy. The Catholic tradition has a different prayer before the doxology. What’s the history to this prayer? (Hilton Head, SC) A: The Lord’s Prayer is properly titled since it was given to hu­manity by the Lord Jesus when the Apostles asked him to teach […]

COLUMBIA—Nearly two months have passed since historic rainfall and catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey hit the area around Houston, leaving thousands of families with severely damaged homes, limited financial resources and seemingly nowhere to turn. Thanks to volunteers from South Carolina, some of them will receive help soon. Hank Chardos, executive director of Birthright of […]

CHARLESTON—A Catholic charity sup­porting seafarers and fishermen worldwide wants more people to know about the challenges facing these men and women. The Apostleship of the Sea used its recent World Congress to focus on the welfare of the millions of work­ers aboard merchant ships around the world. “Many who serve on fishing vessels work in […]

WASHINGTON—The nation’s leaders “must engage in a real debate about needed measures to save lives and make our communities safer,” said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ domestic policy committee. Such debate is essential because “violence in our society will not be solved by a single piece of legislation, and many factors contribute to what […]

BLYTHEWOOD—For many years, people in the Midlands have traveled long distances to attend the Byzantine Mass, also known as the Divine Liturgy. That changed on Oct. 1, when a liturgy was celebrated at what many hope will become a permanent Byz­antine mission at Transfiguration Church. About 100 people attended the Mass celebrated by Father Joseph […]

GREENVILLE—Native American Catho­lics had an extra reason to celebrate when they gathered for a heritage fest and learned more about a second historical figure on the path to saint­hood. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI can­onized Kateri Tekakwitha, the patroness of the environment, as the Church’s first Native American saint. St. Pope John Paul II had […]

November is Black Catholic History Month, and it is a time full of eye-opening information for many people. For example, most people don’t realize that black Catholic history dates all the way back to the Acts of the Apostles (8: 26-40) with the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch by Philip the Deacon. The National Black […]

FORT MILL—Deacon David Bar­tholomew is starting a new journey of service to God after being or­dained by Bishop Robert E. Gugliel­mone on Oct. 22 at St. Philip Neri Church. Dozens of deacons and priests at­tended the joyful liturgy. Members of Deacon Bartholomew’s family, plus friends and supporters from the parish and community also turned out. […]

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Catholic Church stands “in unity” with the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and the larger community after a shooting during Sunday services took the lives of at least 26 people and injured at least 20 others. Those who died ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old, and included 14-year-old Annabelle Pomeroy. Her […]